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Festival Archives - Out! Raleigh 2012

DV8 to Share Anti-Bullying and Anti-Suicide Messages

RALEIGH, N.C., (April 2, 2012) — DV8, a group of teens from Burke County N.C., will be performing on the main stage of the OutRaleigh Festival (www.outraleigh.org) on Saturday, May 5, 2012. OutRaleigh is a program of the LGBT Center of Raleigh. The team of 12-18 year olds strives to be the change they wish to see in the world addressing issues of intolerance, inequality and rejection through song, dance, sign shows, and painting.

“DV8 is a group of ordinary teens from all walks of life with a powerful message for their peers and the adult community,” says Rusty Sutton, OutRaleigh Steering Committee member. “They are a perfect fit for a festival themed “All Families Matter.’”

One 14 yr old member of DV8 shared with the group, after rehearsals of an anti-suicide piece, that he tried to commit suicide by overdosing on sleeping pills. He said that the DV8 group is what gets him through when his parents “go nuts” on him, which is almost daily. You see, not too long ago he "came out" to his family and friends and it did not go well. To this day, his family has not accepted him for who he is. Research shows that as much as 40 percent of the homeless youth population is LGBT, many having been told to live somewhere else by family members or are treated so badly that they leave.

Formed from a youth club called the DASH Club, DV8 performances are unapologetic in their portrayal of bullying, teen suicide and HIV/AIDS. Unable to perform at local school functions, due to the nature of their performance material, the group has found a welcoming audience in the members of the local HIV/AIDS chapter. DV8 has written bios about kids who have been tested for HIV and what they were thinking about as they waited to hear the results; as well as performing educational panels staged in the form of a support group for people who are HIV positive.

Along with DV8, the OutRaleigh Festival will include entertainment performances throughout the day by local, regional and nationally known artists. The free, family-friendly event will also include comedy performances, speeches and DJ entertainment from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

About OutRaleigh 2012:OutRaleigh, a LGBT Center of Raleigh program, celebrates the diversity of families in the Triangle region of North Carolina. With the theme of “All Families Matter,” the annual street festival will be held Saturday May 5 in downtown Raleigh. This family-friendly event provides a safe and welcoming environment for all people to have fun and learn about issues affecting neighbors, friends, coworkers and family members who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. The event includes guest speakers, live entertainment, a KidsZone and an expo area. Visit www.outraleigh.org.